15/08/2026
Why Am I So Obsessed With the Indian Flag? 🇮🇳
I’ve been asked this question more times than I can count:
“Fizal, why are you so obsessed with the Indian Flag?”
Honestly, I never had a perfect answer.
Today, while scrolling through my phone, I came across Photo 2, captured at . MCR HRD Institute, Government of Telangana, during the Hyderabad Policy Conclave, co-hosted by Vaaradhi Trust and hosted by TISS, Hyderabad.
That photograph made me pause and brought back years of memories.
Around 3–4 years ago, a family member told me:
“Fizal, today is Independence Day. I saw a video of the flag hoisting, and I remembered you.”
That made me realise that the Indian Flag had somehow become a part of how people remembered me.
🇮🇳 2016 — The Question
While preparing for UPSC NDA, I came across the IMA Credo:
“The safety, honour and welfare of your country come first, always and every time… Your own ease, comfort and safety come last.”
I asked myself: Why should the country come first?
I had no answer.
I didn’t make it to IMA, but that question motivated me to join NCC during graduation, under the guidance of Dr. Gogineni Hanumantha Rao, then NCC Officer and Principal.
Years later, while volunteering at Ramakrishna Math, Hyderabad, under Swami Bodhamananda Maharaj, one quote by Swami Vivekananda made me stop:
“Unselfishness is God.”
Almost eight years later, I finally connected the dots.
A nation is not merely a geographical boundary. It is its people—their lives, hopes, struggles and dreams.
When service becomes selfless, serving people and serving the nation become one and the same.
Maybe that is why the Indian Flag means so much to me.
When we put people before ourselves, we are already serving the nation. 🇮🇳
Happy 80th Independence Day, India! 🇮🇳
Service Patriotism India JaiHind
